January  10,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
41 
Young  Gardeners’  Domain, 
Christmas  Decorations. 
Although  the  Christmas  of  1900  is  now  numbered  with  the  past,  a 
few  words  on  the  above  subject  may  not  be  out  of  place.  I  think  that 
for  anyone  having  the  opportunity  to  do  so,  a  peep  at  the  displays  made 
by  our  leading  London  florists  is  most  interesting  and  instructive. 
Certainly,  to  judge  by  the  windows  this  season,  there  has  been  no  lack 
of  variety  and  colour,  and  in  the  majority  of  cases  the  pictures  were 
most  attractive. 
Chrysanthemums  were  well  represented  by  L.  Canning,  Princess 
Victoria,  and  Golden  Gem.  Due  Van  Thol  Tulips  in  three  colours 
seemed  very  plentiful,  and,  mixed  with  Fern,  most  useful  for  making 
up  small  vases  for  the  Christmas  tables.  Poinsettias  are  indispensable, 
their  scarlet  bracts  looking  very  bright  and  warm  at  this  dull  season. 
Calanthes,  Cyclamens,  Primulas,  Roman  Hyacinths,  Narcissi,  and 
Violets,  all  found  their  way  into  the  shops,  in  company  with  the  generally 
despised  Camellia ;  Crotons,  too,  in  numerous  varieties,  were  greatly 
used  to  add  to  the  display.  By  the  retarding  process,  to  which  the 
crowns  and  bulbs  are  now  subjected,  Lily  of  the  Valley  and  Lilium 
Harrisi  can  be  seen  at  this  time  of  the  year  much  finer  than  formerly. 
Holly,  both  green  and  variegated,  was  greatly  in  evidence  for 
wreaths  and  crosses  in  preference  to  those  made  with  flowers.  Some  of 
the  designs  were  especially  worthy  of  notice,  combining  as  they  did 
harmony  of  colour  with  lightness  of  arrangement.  One  large  boat¬ 
shaped  vessel  was  filled  with  Narcissus  obvallaris,  interspersed  with 
pieces  of  Croton  Thompsoni ;  this,  on  a  foundation  of  Maidenhair  Fern, 
relieved  by  a  few  growths  of  Dracaena  Sanderiana  and  yellow  Jasmine, 
looked  very  charming.  Begonia  corallina  made  an  effective  display  in 
one  window.  By  the  way,  this  old  climbing  Begonia  is  a  grand  addition 
to  the  shady  side  of  the  stove.  Always  in  bloom,  its  coral  coloured 
flowers  are  most  useful  for  table  decoration. 
Callas  were  greatly  used,  the  variety  Little  Gem  looking  very 
elegant,  made  up  with  its  own  foliage.  Some  of  the  designs  I  thought 
bore  rather  too  much  evidence  of  the  Parisian  taste  with  their  lavish 
display  of  coloured  ribbons  and  stuffed  birds.  I  think  too  much  arti¬ 
ficiality  detracts  from  rather  than  adds  to  their  elegance  and  beauty. 
H.  C.  D.,  Stanmore. 
Thanks  to  “  An  Old  Boy.’’ 
As  I  sat  reading  the  excellent  advice  given  us  young  thinkers  by 
“  An  Old  Boy  ”  my  thoughts  strayed  some  few  years  back,  to  the 
time  when  that  good  old  veteran  wrote  such  admirable  articles  in  our 
Journal,  for  the  benefit  of  all  young  gardeners.  I  well  recollect  the 
rush  for  the  Journal  each  Friday  night,  and  although  the  article  was 
read  aloud  by  the  foreman,  each  individual  in  the  bothy  was  eager  to 
scan  fer  himself  the  great  thoughts  written  by  this  excellent  scribe. 
Many  were  the  resolutions  that  were  made  to  try  and  follow  in  the 
footsteps  of  our  old  friend.  How  fortunate  for  myself,  and  many  others 
no  doubt,  that  the  writer  was  not  discouraged  by  the  critical  remarks 
made  by  his  friend,  who  regarded  his  teachings  “  as  not  a  ha’porth  o’ 
good  to  the  young  fellows  nowadays,”  and  what  a  beautiful  example 
“  An  Old  Boy  ”  has  shown  to  other  head  gardeners  by  endeavouring  to 
help  those  who  are  at  present  beneath  them. 
Many  young  men  of  to-day,  who  at  present  are  disgusted  with 
themselves,  their  profession,  and  everything  about  them,  would  by  a 
little  encouragement  and  homely  advice  given  at  the  proper  time  have 
been  lifted  up  to  a  higher  circle,  and  living  a  life  that  would  have 
benefited  their  brother  gardeners,  and  be  a  credit  to  the  profession  we 
are  so  proud  of.  But  alas  !  how  often  is  it  said  that  head  gardeners 
take  insufficient  personal  interest  in  their  subordinates.  In  some 
cases,  indeed,  it  would  not  pay  us  young  bothyites  to  follow  in  the 
footsteps  of  our  superiors  outside  the  garden  ;  and  yet  when  each 
young  fellow  enters  on  his  gardening  career  it  is  his  desire  to  follow 
in  the  footsteps  of  him  who  is  at  the  head  both  in  matters  relating  to 
gardening  and  otherwise.  Therefore  it  would  be  well  if  our  “heads” 
would  consider  the  influence  they  possess  over  a  young  undeveloped 
mind,  as  they  are  very  often  the  making,  or  destroying,  of  a  very  useful 
subject. 
And  again,  I  hope  my  fellow  bothyites  will  take  heed  of  what  our 
benefactor  occasionally  greets  us  with,  and  think  how  fortunate  we  are 
to  have  such  a  noble  adviser ;  and  let  us  resolve  to  start  this  new 
century  with  higher  ideals,  nobler  thoughts,  and  eventually,  when  we 
are  called  upon  to  take  a  higher  responsibility,  we  shall  fulfil  those 
duties  to  the  satisfaction  of  our  employer,  and  at  the  same  time  be  an 
example  worthy  of  being  copied  by  those  beneath  us.  May  the  “  Old 
Boy  ”  live  for  many  years  to  help  and  guide  “  young  bothyites  ”  to 
overcome  their  trials  and  troubles,  and  may  the  new  ceutury  bring 
peace  and  happiness  to  all  his  kith  and  kin,  is  the  fervent  desire  of  one 
who  has  benefited  by  his  teachings.— J.  S.,  Aigburth. 
WOKK.for.the  WEEK.. 
Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
Cleansing  Fruit  Trees. — It  is  of  great  importance  to  cleanse  the 
stems  and  branches  of  fruit  trees  where  they  may  be  infested  with  moss 
and  lichen,  American  blight,  scale  insects,  or  red  spider.  All  these 
infestations  are  inimical  to  the  well  being  of  the  trees,  and  they  can  be 
better  exterminated  in  winter  than  in  summer,  because  insecticides 
may  be  more  effectively  applied  and  used  of  a  stronger  character, 
though  in  some  cases  the  pests  are  less  conspicuous  during  the  dull 
season,  as,  for  instance,  American  blight  and  red  spider.  The  former, 
however,  is  present  on  the  stems  and  branches,  being  hidden  away  in 
cracks  and  crannies  of  the  bark,  and  something  of  a  searching  nature 
is  necessary.  Red  spider  congregates  in  sheltered  places  under  the 
junctions  of  stems  and  branches,  and  it  is  in  those  positions  that  the 
application  of  insecticide  should  be  specially  directed. 
Moss  and  Lichen. — Where  the  stems  are  thickly  encrusted  with 
mossy  and  lichenous  growths  the  thickest  of  them  should  be  scraped 
off  without  injuring  the  bark,  using  a  tool  made  for  the  purpose,  or  a 
piece  of  hoop  iron.  The  rest  can  then  be  readily  destroyed  by 
applying  a  dressing  of  hot  lime,  soot,  and  cow  manure.  Brine  is 
also  effective,  applying  it  with  a  scrubbing  brush  over  the  stems  and 
larger  branches.  Both  lime  and  brine  destroy  vegetative  growths  of  a 
parasitical  character,  and  in  due  time  they  will  fall  off.  The  well- 
known  potash  and  soda  solution  forms  a  reliable  dressing  for  moss  and 
lichen.  It  is  made  by  dissolving  half  a  pound  of  caustic  soda  and  half 
a  pound  of  crude  commercial  potash  in  five  gallons  of  hot  water.  This 
solution  should  be  sprayed  on  the  trees  at  a  temperature  of  120°.  The 
above  is  a  suitable  strength  for  all  the  hardier  fi  uits,  but  for  Peaches, 
Nectarines,  and  Apricots,  also  choice  Plums  on  walls,  double  the 
quantity  of  water  ought  to  be  used. 
Seale. — Apples,  Pears,  Cherries,  Plums,  Gooseberries,  and  Currants 
are  liable  to  attacks  from  scale  insects,  which  adhere  to  the  bark 
and  prove  unsightly  and  destructive  of  the  tissues  of  the  wood.  A 
good  wash  to  paint  over  the  trees  or  distribute  by  syringing  is  made 
of  equal  parts  of  lime,  sulphur,  and  soot.  These  materials  may  be 
formed  into  a  paste  by  mixing  with  a  softsoap  solution  at  the  rate  of 
a  pound  of  softsoap  to  a  gallon  of  hot  water.  Work  this  well  on  the 
stems  and  larger  branches.  To  form  a  solution  for  syringing  and 
spraying  mix  a  wineglassful  of  methylated  spirits  of  wine  or  petroleum 
into  a  solution  of  softsoap  consisting  of  a  pound  of  soap  to  a  gallon  of 
water.  This  mixture  forms  an  emulsion  which,  to  be  thoroughly  effective, 
must  be  kept  well  stirred  during  application  to  insure  the  oil  being 
equally  distributed. 
Amtrican  Blight  — This  is  a  dreaded  pest  on  Apple  trees,  and  requires 
careful  and  systematic  attention  in  applying  remedies  to  reach  the 
insects  which  hide  away  in  the  deepest  corners  of  cracks  and  openings 
in  the  bark  frequently  caused  by  canker.  Indeed,  it  is  very  frequently 
the  case  that  canker  and  American  blight  occur  together,  the  latter 
living  iu  the  punctures  and  wounds  induced  by  the  former.  One  of  the 
best  means  of  destroying  the  American  blight  is  to  work  into  the 
apertures  and  incisions  in  the  bark  methylated  spirits  of  wine  or 
petroleum  with  a  brush.  Softsoap  and  oil  formed  into  an  emulsion, 
using  1  lb.  of  softsoap  to  2  gallons  of  water,  and  thoroughly  churning  in 
a  quart  of  petroleum,  will  also  prove  destructive  to  the  pests,  but  it 
must  be  worked  in  thoroughly  wherever  the  insects  are.  Many  of  the 
advertised  insecticides  are  useful,  and  prove  efficacious  if  used  in  a 
careful  manner. 
Red  Spider. — Trees  that  have  been  attacked  with  this  small  but 
destructive  pest  in  summer  should  be  thoroughly  dressed  in  winter,  so 
as  to  destroy  all  the  insects  and  eggs  possible.  Spraying  with  soda  and 
potash  solution  is  excellent.  Wall  trees,  including  Apricots,  Peaches, 
Nectarines,  Plums,  and  Cherries,  may  have  the  stems  and  larger 
branches  brushed  over  with  a  paint-like  solution  of  softsoap,  sulphur, 
soot,  and  petroleum.  The  soot  is  used  to  darken  the  mixture,  rendering 
it  when  applied  more  easily  to  be  seen,  but  of  itself  it  is  a  deterrent  to 
red  spider.  Clay  may  be  used  to  thicken  and  colour  the  solution  if 
preferred,  but  soot  is  better.  Much  of  the  young  wood  may  be  painted 
over  as  well,  provided  care  is  taken  not  to  injure  the  buds.  This  is 
best  effected  by  working  from  the  base  to  the  apex  of  the  shoots.  This 
mixture  is  convenient  to  dress  cordon  and  restricted  branches  generally, 
as  these  being  furnished  more  or  less  with  knotty  and  gnarled  spurs 
provide  safe  hiding  places  in  situations  behind  the  branches  which 
cannot  be  reached  by  spraying  or  syringing. 
Preparing  for  Spring  Planting. — Where  the  planting  of  fruit  trees 
and  bushes  has  been  deferred  the  ground  may  be  prepared  for 
February  or  March  planting.  Should  very  favourable  weather  occur, 
whereby  the  soil  is  in  good  working  condition  prior  to  the  time 
mentioned,  planting  may  be  done.  During  the  present  month,  however, 
if  the  soil  needs  preparation  this  can  be  proceeded  with.  Trench  it  to 
